Let’s not waste any of your time and not start with an introduction about the legendary skater, Eric Koston, as I assume you already know him and only want to know more about his skate shoes. besides, i have already written an article about “Who the F**k is Eric Koston“, So here we will take a look at the history of the legendary pro skater Eric Koston shoes.
1.The éS Koston : First of eric koston shoes
Eric Koston’s first signature skate shoe, the éS Koston, was released in 1997 as part of éS’ pro team. The éS Koston featured an air cushioning system in the heel and an exposed polyurethane cushioned midsole, making it one of the first skate shoes to draw inspiration from Nike’s Air Max series. The éS Koston quickly became an iconic silhouette in the skateboarding industry, so much so that éS re-released it numerous times throughout Koston’s career and it was even recreated by another brand over 10 years later.
2.The éS K2
éS quickly produced the Koston 2 after the success of the éS Koston’s sales, aiming to set a new standard in skateboarding footwear. Its EVA midsole aimed to end heel bruise. This high tech, space boot-looking shoe was so innovative that it sparked a slew of imitators, with Osiris D3 and DC Shoes’ collections from 1999-2003 being the most notable.
3.The éS K3
Koston’s legendary status grew in 2000, when he won the X Games, the Gravity Games, and the Globe World Championships, and appeared in the ground-breaking video game, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2. He drew comparisons to great athletes like Michael Jordan, whom Koston cited in a 2009 Nike SB Interview as the source of his favorite Nike style: the Air Jordan 1.
The Bones Brigade’s use of the shoe in the 80s influenced Koston’s choice. His signature model, the Koston 3, draws from the world of basketball, with stitch lines and color blocking reminiscent of the Jordan 12, especially the White/Varsity Red/Black from 1997.
4.The éS K4
éS introduced the Koston 4 in 2002, despite it being considered expensive. Undeterred, éS sacrificed the price point to create a shoe designed to protect skaters and offer a more comfortable and innovative design, featuring internal lacing, vast rubber around the toe piece, and Jordan-esq colour ways. This ultimately resulted in another hit with the hardcore skate community.
5.The éS K5 : Least popular of eric koston shoes
éS and Koston’s K5 features a low profile look due to its internal midsole, a bold step that did not become popular.
6.The éS EK-01
OG éS Koston fans around the globe rejoice as éS re-releases the original Koston shoe as the EK-01 in 2003, featuring Sole Technology’s new System G2 cushioning system.
7.The éS K6
In 2004, Eric Koston won the X Games and was awarded the honour of landing the ‘worst trick’ at the Tampa Pro contest. Later that year, he and Steve Berra opened their own secret training facility, the Berrics. As skateboarding fashion began to change, brands such as éS, Etnies and DC started to strip back layers of padding, rubber, and inch thick midsoles from their shoes.
éS debuted the K6 in their Fall collection, a simple, classic silhouette with brown leather and suede on a faux vulcanised cupsole. This marked the start of the age of the understated.
8.The éS K7
The K7 would mark the end of a 12 year relationship between Koston and éS. 10 years of some of the most iconic and innovative skateboarding footwear ever.
9.Lakai Kost-One
Koston faced the difficult task of transitioning from éS to Lakai. The level of funding and innovation at Sole Technology was much different than Lakai, and the shoes released by 2006 were more understated than his previous models. Despite the shift, Koston invested in Lakai and eventually became a partner. Many thought the brand would be his career and retirement fund.
Koston joined the pro team ranks and almost immediately released the ‘Kost-One’ and ‘Lakoston’ shoes. Although the R+D period was shorter than he was used to at éS, the Kost-One still gained popularity. The Lakoston, which was more casual and less focused on skate culture, was not as popular.
10.Lakai Lakoston
DC Court set the standard for simple and casual skate shoes of the time, drawing inspiration from a classic tennis silhouette. The Lakoston followed this trend, but offered little in terms of innovation and had a very generic style. Despite this, Lakai’s release of Fully Flared video saw Koston remain strong and won the brand the ‘Video of the Year’ award.
11.The Lakai Koston Select
Lakai’s ‘Select’ collection combined classic designs with higher quality materials and a vulcanised sole in order to create groundbreaking products. This collaboration between Lakai, Koston, and Independent marked the first time Independent would ever put their name to a shoe – a special honor for long time team member Eric Koston.
12.The Lakai Koston
Lakai bafflingly managed to re-release the original Koston shoe for the second time, delighting OG éS Koston lovers!
13.Nike SB Dunk Low
Koston’s business manager uncovered some suspicious activities at Lakai, which caused him to leave the brand in 2008. However, it wasn’t long before Koston found a new home at Nike SB. In 2001, Koston had bought a young P-Rod onto éS, and a decade later, Koston is the new guy on a team built around P-Rod.
14.Nike SB Dunk High
I need to see a photo to confirm if Koston ever wore the ‘Thai Temple’ Dunk High’s, a tribute to his Asian heritage and birthplace, Bangkok.
15.Nike SB Koston 1
A large skateboard shoe campaign supported the release of the shoes, which included a limited edition collaborative shoe with Kobe Bryant. Koston must have found this special, but it did not appeal to many others. Some pairs may still be available at Slam City Skates. The launch tour video featured a great Kobe cameo.
17.Nike SB Koston x Heritage
Nike combined Koston 1 and the Air Max 90 to create the limited edition Koston 1 x Heritage shoe, although it seemed unlikely that the hybrid would work. However, it succeeds in preserving the subtlety of the Koston 1 while incorporating the Air Max 90’s trademark features. Although this may not be everyone’s preference, it is successful.
18.Nike SB Koston 2
At first, the Nike SB Koston 2, released in 2013, may appear to have taken the worst features of the P-Rod and combined them with the best features of the Koston 1. However, taking time to appreciate the Koston 2 will make it grow on you.
19.Nike SB Koston 3
Some love it, some hate it. The new Nike SB Koston 3 is one of the most controversial releases. Lots of people said it won’t be skateable at all.
